Is It OK to Use a Cell Phone in a Restaurant? — Survey of the Day

While most of us have grimaced when a friend or a diner at a nearby table has taken a cell phone call at a restaurant, most of us have also been guilty of exactly the same behavior.

That duality is reflected in a survey from Poll Postion, which asked 1,057 adults whether they thought talking on cell phones should be permitted in eating establishments. According to the poll, 45 percent said cell phones should be permitted in restaurants, 39 percent wanted them to be banned and 16 percent had no opinion on the question.

Not surprisingly, the older a person, the more likely they were to favor a ban. The majority of those over 65 said cell phones should be a restaurant no-no, whereas 62 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds said such talking and eating was acceptable behavior.